Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday gave a clarion call for learning, speaking and promoting one’s dialect to prevent cultural erosion. He was addressing the second edition of Tang festival of the Sartangs Tribe at Salari under West Kameng district on Friday.
‘The department of Indigenous Affairs, Government of Arunachal Pradesh is tasked with the responsibility of preserving, promoting and documenting the culture and tradition of the various tribes of the state but the onus of sticking to one’s root and upholding one’s culture and tradition lies with the society concerned’ he said.
Speaking on the ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ programme, Khandu said the flagship programme envisages facilitating various services to the citizens with the motto ‘One stop solution to multiple problems’. However, he expressed his dismay over the poor performance by some of the districts and cautioned that the state government is taking a serious note of the issue.
Welcoming the proposals of the locals to take up the Khoitam and Gangri hydro projects which would change the economic condition of the people of the area, Khandu assured to take up the projects in earnest.
He said ‘Team Arunachal’ has been doing a wonderful job in transforming the lives of the people of the state. Transport and road communication is being given utmost priority as it paves the way for further development of an area. Likewise, the digital connectivity, air connectivity and the East-West Corridor would give a new dimension and fillip to the economic affairs of the state. He added that the Bogibeel Bridge when completed would benefit eight districts of eastern Arunachal which thereby could bring a sea change in the lives of the people of the area.
Speaking on the education sector and employment avenues, Khandu said a revolutionary change has been brought in the recruitment policy by the state government by bringing in the Staff Selection Board (SSB) for the group C & D posts which would have central and district quotas thereby doing away with favouritism and nepotism and giving opportunity to the deserving candidates.
Addressing the vexed issue of the 9-mile to Nafra road, the chief minister urged the locals to prioritize road communication over personal gains and suggested that a middle path could be worked out so that the road for which a grant of Rs 75 crore has been allocated in the 1st phase sees the light of the day and also the affected do not feel the pinch by way of petty contracts or availing the direct benefit transfer under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana.
Replying to the grievances of the people, Khandu assured to facilitate construction of a playground under ‘Khelo India’ and informed that the Schedule Tribe issue of the Sartang community is being favourably handled by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and could materialize soon.
However, on the demand for creation of two Circle Offices in the Sartang area, Khandu assured to forward the matter to the Chief Secretary for the feasibility report.
MLAs Phurpa Tsering and Japu Deru and DIG (SSB) Sonam Yudron addressed the people on the occasion.
Among others, MLA Kumsi Sidisow, ex-minister Tsering Gyurme, ex-MLA Rinchin Kharu and HODs of Bomdila, Dirang and Nafra attended the Tang festival of the Sartangs.